Joe Picozzi (born 1995 or 1996) is an American Republican politician from Somerton, Philadelphia.[1] He was elected to represent District 5 of the Pennsylvania State Senate in the 2024 US elections.[2][3][4] His opponent was Democratic incumbent Jimmy Dillon. Dillon was elected in a 2022 special election to replace John Sabatina, who resigned to serve on a Court of Common Pleas.[3][5] Both candidates ran unopposed in their respective party primaries.[6][7]
Picozzi's parents are a retired deputy fire chief and the former director of rehabilitation at the now-closed Hahnemann Hospital.[8] He graduated from Holy Ghost Preparatory School.[9] Picozzi studied government at Georgetown University and was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity.[10][1] He has worked as a senior advisor in strategic planning at the Manhattan Institute and an assistant to US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.[1] He was an Eagle Scout.[1] Picozzi now lives in Tacony.[11]
In 2017, Picozzi was a finalist for that year's "30 under 30" list produced by Red Alert Politics, due in part to his campaigning in the 2016 US elections.[8] The Erie Times-News reported early in the campaign that although District 5 is heavily Democratic, Republican strategists saw the seat as a "potential pick-up".[5] By flipping District 5, Picozzi will be the first Republican to represent Philadelphia in the State Senate in over two decades.[2][12]
References
edit- ^ a b c d McCutcheon, Lauren (2024-07-04). "Who's Running for Election in Philadelphia on November 5, 2024?". The Philadelphia Citizen. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ a b McGoldrick, Gillian; Orso, Anna (2024-11-07). "Republicans flip Northeast Philly state Senate seat, which Dems called 'the most embarrassing part' of the election results". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ a b McGoldrick, Gillian (2024-09-24). "Northeast Philly state Sen. Jimmy Dillon denies posting racist and homophobic tweets to his basketball business account". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2024-09-24. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ Philadelphia, Alistair Dawber (2024-06-25). "Young Americans back Trump in rebellion against 'the Man'". The Times. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ a b Siwy, Bruce (28 February 2024). "Which 5 state Senate seats does the Pennsylvania GOP see as flip opportunities in 2024?". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ Waring, Tom (2024-05-01). "Picozzi looks to November". Northeast Times. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ Waring, Tom (2024-04-11). "Dillon, Picozzi talk at Delaire". Northeast Times. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ a b McCrone, Brian X. (2017-10-03). "Northeast Philadelphia Man on Washington D.C. List of 30 Under 30". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ Times, Northeast (2024-04-20). "Laying the foundation for a campaign". Northeast Times. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ "Picozzi jump starts Senate campaign". Northeast Times. 2024-04-07. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ Waring, Tom (2024-09-22). "Candidates make their pitch". Northeast Times. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ Bunch, Jesse (2024-10-28). "This 29-year-old candidate could become Philadelphia's only GOP state senator. But the city's party isn't standing behind him". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2024-10-28. Retrieved 2024-11-08.